Plunge

The first involves testing the water, cautiously inching your body into the pool as you slowly descend the steps or the ladder. It’s all about deliberateness and the hope that this “safe” approach will allow you to avoid any unpleasantness.

The second, of course, is to simply jump in–to plunge.

The avoiders come from a place of fear. The plungers embrace the risk, accept the trade-offs and commit. Once you are in the air, there is no turning back.

I wonder where Osama bin Laden would be if the Obama administration were afraid to plunge?

I wonder where the entrepreneurs behind Groupon, Netflix, Gilt Groupe and so many other share grabbing innovative businesses would be if they were afraid to plunge? And where the competition would be if they hadn’t been afraid?